DESCRIPTION

M7 Spider Increment 1 is a hand-emplaced, remotely controlled, Man-in-the-Loop, anti-personnel munition system that is currently being fielded. M7E1 Spider Increment 1A is being developed as a follow-on incremental development to the baseline Spider Program. Spider Increment 1A is not a replacement for the Spider Increment 1 system. Spider Increment 1A will develop and provide an enhanced control station that will utilize the common Increment 1 munitions and accessories. Spider Increment 1A will retain all current features of Spider Increment 1, with the addition of the following:

New control station, which will include an enhanced mapping capability

Control station will be capable of seamlessly communicating the munition field status and location to the Mission Command, provided an unclassified network is available

Ability to employ legacy government off-the-shelf munitions

Will be compliant with U.S. National Landmine Policy, as is Spider Increment 1

Spider Increment 1A is a Special Interest Program with Office of the Secretary of Defense oversight (operational testing only). The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics memo, dated January 10, 2011, directed the Army to “fully fund, develop, and field an alternative(s) for persistent anti-vehicle landmines as part of the Spider program.” Although Spider Increment 1A is an incremental modification to the baseline M7 Spider Increment 1 program, from a funding perspective Spider Increment 1A was considered a new start because the M7 Spider Increment 1 Research, Development, Test, & Evaluation funding line had closed. Spider Increment 1A is being developed as an evolutionary acquisition in an incremental approach. It entered the acquisition lifecycle at Milestone B.

BENEFIT TO THE WARFIGHTER

Spider Increment 1A will provide the warfighter with an improved networked munition control station, and the ability to employ and control fielded Army common Anti-Personnel (AP) and Anti-Vehicle (AV) lethal and nonlethal munitions and effects.

SPECIFICATIONS

Latest computer controller technology and operating system with map background and open system software architecture to support integration of future munitions

Ability to employ fielded Army blasting-cap-initiated AP and AV munitions and effects